Home for the holidays pet adoption The event will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday at the fairgrounds, which is in the Jacksonville sports complex adjacent to EverBank Field, the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena and the Baseball Grounds. Parking and admission are free. To volunteer, email volunteer@fcnmhp.org. For more information go to fcnmhp.org.

Jacksonville's mega pet adoption event this weekend

More than 1,000 pets will be available at the fairgrounds.

Betsy, a chocolate beagle, waits in her crate for a new owner at a July adoption event in Jacksonville. There'll be another one this weekend starting Friday.

The Big Three animal welfare organizations in Jacksonville and at least 15 animal rescue groups will join forces this weekend for what they’re calling one of the nation’s largest pet adoption events.

First Coast No More Homeless Pets, Jacksonville Animal Care and Protective Services and the Jacksonville Humane Society plan to have more than 1,000 dogs, puppies, cats and kittens available for adoption at the “Home for the Holidays” event at the Jacksonville Fairgrounds.

That makes it the largest adoption event held in one location in the United States, according to PetSmart Charities and Best Friends Animal Society, which regularly sponsor similar events across the country.

The goal is to free up space at area animal shelters and move toward a citywide target of becoming a no-kill community by 2014 if not earlier.

“Adoptions are crucial to our goal of making Jacksonville a no-kill city. Our shelters are full so we want to find homes for as many of those dogs and cats as possible,” said Rick DuCharme, executive director of First Coast No More Homeless Pets. “Each animal that is adopted saves two lives — the life of that pet and the life of another that will take its place in the shelter.”

At a similar adoption event in July, 946 dogs and cats were adopted. If the 1,000 pets expected to be up for adoption this weekend are adopted before the event concludes, more animals will be brought in, DuCharme said.

“We are partnering with more [rescue] groups than ever before,” he said, so having enough animals “is not really an issue.”

Denise Deisler, executive director of the Jacksonville Humane Society, said she has high expectations.

“It is our holiday wish that the community will attend, adopt and that all of these wonderful dogs and cats will be in loving homes for the holidays,” Deisler said.

Adoption fees will vary among the different organizations and rescue groups participating, but all pets will be spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped. Jacksonville Animal Care and Protective Services, the city shelter, will have about 200 animals up for adoption for a $20 fee, said city spokeswoman Monica Landeros.

“We really need the public’s help to make this happen,” she said, noting the city is seeing a surplus of dogs right now.

PetSmart Charities, the largest funder of animal-welfare efforts in North America, and Best Friends Animal Society, a national organization that encourages no-kill programs, have become regular supporters of Jacksonville’s animal adoption and no-kill efforts.

“There are so many amazing pets in shelters who are waiting for loving homes,” said Susana Della Maddalena, executive director of PetSmart Charities. “Sometimes these pets need a little more exposure to find their families, so we’re proud to participate in this event and give them the second chance they deserve.”